Digging in: PML-N won’t ask Punjab-based party officials to resign

Party officials fear the anti-graft probe will be widened

ISLAMABAD: Days after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said it had opened probes against a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA and a Punjab minister, the ruling party has decided in principle not to force any under-investigation member or bureaucrat in Punjab to relinquish their post should they receive a summons from the watchdog body.

NAB Punjab Director General Maj (retd) Burhan Ali had said on Thursday the body was probing cases against two important members of the PML-N, including Punjab Education and Youth Affairs Minister Rana Mashhood. Inquiries had also been initiated against PML-N MNA Iftikharul Hassan, former provincial ministers Ali Nawaz Shah and Zaheerudin, former auditor general Buland Akhtar Rana.

But with the scope of the investigations expected to widen to other high profile members of the party, there are concerns on just who could be caught in the anti-graft dragnet.

Well-placed sources in the party say that meetings during the past two days had decided not to remove, nor ask any member to resign from their official posts should they receive summons from NAB.

The sources added that if any member was asked to relinquish their post for the duration of the probe, it may set a dangerous precedent, especially if fears come true of the probe expanding to high profile bureaucrats and ministers such as Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, senior party leader and Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah has said that everyone had the right to defend themselves. “PML-N has a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption,” he said.

Expanding the probe against Mashhood

The PML-N is apprehensive that the scope of the NAB probe against Mashhood may be expanded to include embezzlement of funds, particularly those for organising sports festivals in the province.

Sanaullah said that the investigation against Mashhood over a video in which he is seen taking an alleged bribe, relates to a personal business deal and not official government matters. He added that Mashhood had already cleared his position before the party leadership.

Widening the circle

The Rawalpindi section of NAB has started probing the Nandipur power project. In this regards, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif has sent his statement to NAB.

Meanwhile, source said  that Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif has asked his provincial bureaucracy to be ready in case they receive any NAB summons.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st,  2015.